Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-04-20
EXTRAVAGANT EPICURES.

Several Remarkable Cases Described-A
Reverend Glutton.
Haydn, the great composer and
equally great consumer, liked to dine
alone. 1t was his custom to order
his dinner for five, and then at the
appointed hour to devour the whole
banquet. On one occasion he COM
manded the new waiter, who was not
acquainted with the great musicians
popularity, to serve the dinner.
ssThe dinner is ready" said the wait
er. bowling, "but, monsieur, the COM
pany have not. yet arrived" DE
company" retorted Haydn, con-
temptuously, ode company? | am
de company" The dinner was at
once served to ''de company" who de-
molished it quite as efectually as any
ordinary company could have done.
Another lordly feeder was contem-
porary of Haydn, the Duke OF Nor
folk, who would eat at q Covent
Garden tavern food enough for five
persons, but he possessed a more
sensitive temperament than the mu-
stefan, and would never eat five din
ners In one g. second time at the same
hotel, not caring to encounter again
the obvious amaZement OF the wait
ers. The Cure de Brequier is immor-
talized by Brillat Savarin. This rever
end gentleman would eat at single
sitting as much food as would serve q
workingman for ten days. Brillat
Savarin once saw him, in three-quar-
tiers OF an nour, sweep into his capa-
cious stomach So quart of soup, g.
plate of bouilli, q large leg of mutton,
q superb ham, g. copious salad, q
pound or two of cheese, q prodlglous
quantity of bread, q. bottle of wine,
another of water and a cup OF coffee" "
The narrator is careful to state
that the cure did not eat
either the ham bone or that of
the leg OF mutton. We are told of an
English man of letters and politics
who ate at q solitary dinner seven
pounds and half of solid meat. At
the shop where he performed the feat
the customers were at liberty to eat
as much as they pleased for a certain
sum, bat it's keeper had never
before encountered q man of his ilk.
Lucullus never dined more sumptu-
ously than when he dined alone, and
on one occasion upbraided his cook
for serving him with cheap repast
when "Lucullus dined with Lucullus,"
the cost of which was only about
$500. Among modern extravaganza
epicures we have Vicomte de Well
Oastel, who wagered that he could
consume. 500 francs worth Of food
and liquor in two hours. His order
consisted Of twenty-four dozen
oysters. q soup, q beefsteak, a pleas
ant stuffed with truffies, a salmi of
ortolans, dish of asparagus, 81 plate
of young peas, a pineapple, a. dish of
straw berries, five bottles of wine,
coffee and liquors. He won his wager
in one hour and forty minutes. Ma
poleon |. ate little, and that rapidly,
as if he begrudged the time. His two
favorite dishes Wereea breast Of NUT
ton grilled and lentils. Napoleon III.
resembled his uncle in gastronomic in
difference and sobriety and had no
care about what he ate, while Louis
XVIII. was more interested in menu
than in an act OF parliament. To de-
scend from the region OF the histOri-
cally marvellous to what [ have act
ually witnessed, writes a correspond
emit OF the San Francisco Post, [ re-
member once breakfasting in the
company of a we'll known musician
and being greatly astonished at his
astronomical feats. First he dis
posed of the half of q large muskmel-
on, followed by beefsteak and mush-
rooms, of which he had second and
g. liberal help; potato croquettes, four
boiled eggs and toast and mullins ad
libitum followed, the repast being
concluded with six wheat cakes. Said
our hostess to me afterward: 81 con-
slider him the very prince of guests,
with his delightful conversation, his
divine music, and such an appetite. !"
Good Housekeeping.